ANUGAAMINI- The Boundaries

24. Fragility

All dressed up in her saaree, Anupamaa stepped into the college and as per the plan she was sitting in class and planning to run straight to the library in her free period.

She took out her notebook and Prof. Manini entered. Anupamaa opened her notebook when, "May I come in ma'am...??", a voice came.

"Yes... You may... Quick!", she broke a chalk into two halves and wrote the heading on the blackboard.

Anupamaa's blood froze in her body as she saw him back in class. She looked at him and he smirked and his brows raised. She tried focusing on her notebook. He saw her sitting alone on the first bench and turned around and Devika wasn't there. He swirled the keyring around his forefinger and sat on the front bench by her and slipped closer. She got startled all of a sudden and slipped away on the bench setting her bag in between. He looked at her through the corner of his eyes making her uncomfortable.

Prof. Manini turned around to start her lecture and he pretended to focus on his register. But she had noticed discomfort in Anupamaa's eyes by then and gasped looking at her trying to slip more and more away from him.

"VISHAAL !!!", she shouted his name out and his body jerked at the pitch of her voice.

"Ye...s... Yes... Ma'am... ", he stood up.

"Pick your bag up and go to that desk!! RIGHT NOW!!", she pointed to a desk farther from Anupamaa's in the other row.

"But ma'am... I am not doing anything...?", he asked.

"Don't try to act smart with me!! I know what you can or can't do... MOVE I SAID !!", she ordered brusquely. Their eyes met for a short second and there was roughness in both their eyes for each other.

He picked his bag and when his back faced Manini he winked at Anupamaa and sat on the directed seat. Anupamaa breathed in relief and shut her eyes for a moment. She looked at Manini to give her a thankful gesture but she had already turned to scribble the board.

He stared at Anupamaa from a distance, flicked a chewing gum in his mouth and looked at the board then out of the window as lecture was not the reason why he entered the class

~

The class was dismissed and she walked out. Manini exited the class with her. Anupamaa wanted to hurry towards the library and didn't quite notice her. She stopped for a moment to gulp on some water and Manini saw Vishal ogling at her again - though he was trying to be discreet yet nothing escapes her eyes.

She protectively wrapped a hand around Anupamaa's shoulders startling her. Vishal looked away and got busy in himself.

"Ma...am... Ma'am...", she fumbled.

"How are your studies going on?", she asked casually as they walked.

"Theek... Chal ri hai..."

"Abhi kahan? Free period hai?"

"Yes ma'am... Do period free hain to... Library... Jaa rahi thi... Mere notes poore ni hai... Vo complete kar loongi...".

"Good... Aise hi acche se padho... You're a bright student...".

"Yes Ma'am...", Anupamaa stopped. "Main... Jaaun... Vo library iss taraf... Hai...".

"Oh yeah sure... Go!"

Anupamaa took the right turn and disappeared.

Manini still didn't find it okay and walked back a little and saw Vishal following Anupamaa again. Anupamaa was walking slowly and getting to the edge of the pathway trying to avoid him but he was convinced there is no one for her.